EXCLUSIVE: Eddie Howe will have £75 million to spend this summer at Newcastle, with James Maddison their main midfield target and Moises Caicedo, Scott McTominay, and Conor Gallagher also on the radar.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and his recruitment team have been told that they have a £75 million transfer budget this summer, with James Maddison at the top of their priority midfield list.
Several sources have verified that is the price they are aiming for, and due to Financial Fair Play, the only way to get closer to £100m is to sell a player now or plan on doing so next summer.
Mail Sport understands that Leicester’s Maddison is a target they are willing to pursue, along with Manchester United’s Scott McTominay, Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, and Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.
Newcastle have spent £250 million in three transfer windows under Saudi ownership, and supporters had expecting a summer of record expenditure following this season’s top-four finish. However, according to Mail Sport, current FFP calculations allow for a spend of £70-80 million, and Howe and the scouting department are aware of those figures. The catch is that, as we’ve seen in recent windows, Newcastle’s initial budget has been exceeded.
Despite their relegation from the Premier League, Leicester want £60 million for Maddison and will hope that competition from Newcastle and Tottenham preserves the asking price. For a long time, it was assumed that the 26-year-old would prefer a move to London, but with Newcastle’s Champions League qualification and Tottenham’s downfall, that perception may have shifted. The possibility of working with Howe is said to be a major draw.
Newcastle is also interested in Caicedo but will not pay the £80 million demanded by Brighton. The 21-year-old, on the other hand, is the ideal profile of a holding midfielder. Maddison is seen as a No.8 who can play on the right side of a midfield three.
Meanwhile, McTominay will be permitted to leave Old Trafford this summer, though Manchester United may have to decrease their asking price, which is presently in excess of £30 million. Similarly, Gallagher is valued at less than half the £50 million sought by Chelsea for the England international. Other midfielders are preferable, according to sources, and Chelsea’s current stance makes a move improbable, but the 23-year-old remains of interest, especially considering his potential under Howe.
Newcastle’s longer list includes Nice’s Khepren Thuram, PSV’s Xavi Simons, and Leeds’ Tyler Adams, but the focus appears to be on Maddison for the time being. Dominik Szoboszlai of RB Leipzig has also been seen.
The Magpies are monitoring the situation at all of the relegated clubs, although we understand Leicester pair Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans are not targets. Barnes, 25, is liked, but Newcastle believe 21-year-old Anthony Gordon – signed for £40m from Everton in January – will emerge as a key player for Howe next season. Gabriel Veiga, of Celta Vigo, has been heavily linked with Newcastle in recent days but he is not the type of midfielder they want this summer. Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby is not on the wanted list, either.
Newcastle is also looking for a left-back, a right-sided centre-back, and a versatile forward. Kieran Tierney is a left-back option for Arsenal, who want at least £30 million for the Scotland international, but his availability may be contingent on how much money remains after prioritizing a midfielder.Kim Min-jae, a Napoli centre-back with a £40 million release clause, is admired, but there is concern that his salary demands will shatter the club’s structure, and Manchester United seems a more likely destination.
Newcastle will progressively raise the top weekly wage to £140,000, but first they must strengthen revenue streams.Commercial income was so low under Mike Ashley that it continues to have an impact on the club’s capacity to maneuver in the transfer market.
A shirt sponsorship deal worth £25 million per season with Saudi Arabian events business Sela will be disclosed in the coming days. A Kuwaiti company was in the running for the major shirt sponsor and could be one of several that are still interested in additional commercial prospects being investigated.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s new chief financial officer, Simon Capper, is expected to join from Leicester.
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